After more than 16 years at APM Terminals Apapa in Nigeria, Abiodun Kuku, a reliability manager, has seen the terminal evolve into one of the most advanced and high-performing facilities in Nigeria.
My career has progressed both vertically and laterally, and every role came with new challenges that helped shape how I lead today.
In this Q&A, he reflects on his career journey, the realities of managing reliability in a high-volume environment and why preventing failure is just as important as fixing it.
I started my career 16 years ago, in 2009, as a rolling stock supervisor. I later moved into the maintenance planning unit as a supervisor and was then promoted to maintenance controller.
In 2018, I returned to the rolling stock unit to take on the role of manager. From late 2024 into 2025, I had a brief but demanding assignment managing the mobile harbour crane (MHC) team. I currently serve as a reliability manager.
My career has progressed both vertically and laterally, with each role presenting new challenges and learning opportunities. I have been fortunate to grow through these experiences and to support my teams in achieving our objectives
People often think reliability is about fixing equipment when it breaks. In reality, my role is focused on preventing failures before they happen: using data analysis, inspections and long-term maintenance strategies.
A typical day for me involves supporting the operations teams by identifying potential process failures early.
Through inspections and data analysis, we develop corrective and preventive maintenance actions aimed at improving equipment reliability and availability.
I spend a lot of time identifying patterns in equipment behaviour using downtime data. Based on these insights, I advise equipment managers on the actions required to improve performance and increase availability.
The terminal has undergone a major transformation. Structurally and operationally, our facilities have improved significantly and are now among the best in the country.
We have also seen consistent growth in container volumes. In fact, in 2025 we recorded the highest volume handled in a single calendar year. Since I joined in 2009, our progress has been steady and continuous.
As my responsibilities have evolved, I have had to continuously develop new skills to meet expectations. I completed leadership training through the Maersk Leadership Programme and obtained certifications in document control and in maintenance and reliability (CMRP).
The work I do to ensure equipment reliability leads directly to increased cargo handling capacity. The increased handling capacity, in turn, improves vessel turnaround time, enhances customer confidence and ultimately supports company revenue.
A good day for me is when equipment is deployed and operates throughout the day without any maintenance-related downtime or delays.
Equipment reliability is critical to Apapa’s future progress. It helps us retain customer trust and strengthen our position as an industry leader in Nigeria.
Reliability will always be a key driver of our growth and competitiveness.
My advice is to be open-minded and ready to seize opportunities as they arise. The journey might not be easy, but with hard work and dedication, everything will make sense in the end.
APM Terminals Apapa rewards performance, and you can rise as far as you are willing to go.
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